A Russian businessman who is alleged to be a mafia boss, Sergei Mikhailov, goes on trial in the Swiss city of Geneva today Monday amid unprecedented security.

It's the first time a suspected member of the Russian mafia has been tried in western Europe.

Mr Mikhailov -- who has been in custody for more than two years and sought by police in the United States, Israel and Belgium -- is charged with belonging to a secret criminal organisation called Solntsevskaya, using false documents and breaking a Swiss law restricting foreigners from buying property.

If convicted, he faces a jail sentence of up to seven years.

The BBC Geneva correspondent says the odds have been stacked against the Geneva authorities throughout the investigation who have complained of a lack of Russian cooperation with the enquiry.